Tree rammed

Driver left four friends behind after crash

The car was badly demolished on impact in Kematen am Innbach and ended up on its roof(Bild: Matthias Lauber/laumat.at)

Five people were injured, including one seriously - that is the result of a night-time accident in Kematen am Innbach. Because the driver had fled the scene after crashing into a tree, a large search operation was launched. The driver has since turned up again.

The 19-year-old from Kematen am Innbach was driving his fully occupied car from his home town towards the See district at around 2.20 am on Saturday. According to all his passengers, he accelerated sharply in a winding wooded area and hit a tree on the right-hand side of the road. The car overturned and came to rest on its roof after about 30 meters.

Everyone was taken to hospital
The 19-year-old drove away from the scene of the accident and left the injured people at the scene. A 21-year-old man from Ried was seriously injured and trapped in the back seat of the vehicle and was freed by the fire department. The three other occupants, a 22-year-old man and two 19-year-old girls. All occupants were taken to hospital in Wels.

Hidden in the forest
Because the driver could not be found, a search operation was launched. The police found the young man in a wooded area near the village of Kematen. He was also taken to the hospital in Wels. A breathalyzer test confirmed the suspected motive for the escape: 0.72 per mille.